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Friday, 10 June 2016

Fraud suspect dies in EFCC custody

A fraud suspect, Mr. Desmond Nunugwo, has died barely after six hours in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the agency has said.

The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement on Friday that the suspect was arrested for allegedly duping a woman of N91m.

Nunugwo was alleged to have collected the money under the pretext that he had high net worth business associates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who were on the verge of buying Nicon Insurance and convinced her of their disposition to help her stock fish business.

According to the EFCC, the suspect was arrested following a petition from the woman who alleged that he had become evasive after collecting the money.

The deceased was subsequently arrested and taken into custody around 5.30pm on Thursday. Six hours, however, Nunugwo was said to have fallen ill and was rushed to a hospital where he died.

The statement read in part, “A suspect under investigation by the EFCC passed away on June 10, 2016, few hours after he was taken into custody. His demise was confirmed at the hospital where he was rushed after he suddenly took ill.

“The Late Nunugwu allegedly fraudulently obtained N91m from an acquaintance after he tricked her into believing that he had high net worth business associates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates who were on the verge of buying Nicon Insurance and convinced her of their disposition to help her stock fish business.

“Nunugwo was arrested in Utako, Abuja at about 5.33pm on Thursday, June 9, 2016. His statement was taken, where he admitted receiving the money from the complainant, with the additional information that he transferred N30m of the said money to Norway. But he could not explain the whereabouts of the balance of N61m.

“The suspect was detained at about 7.30pm, in the absence of anybody to take him on bail. Six hours later, he suddenly complained of discomfort and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.”

The EFCC said the incident had already been reported at the Wuse Police Station, where investigation into the cause of the sudden death had commenced.